Solomon amassed the greatest pile of wealth and accomplishment possible, yet he declared, “It’s all vanity.”  He concluded that “To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God.”  [Ecc. 2:26]

In what stage of life’s journey do you find yourself?  Before you invest yourself in meaningless pursuits, consider making it your supreme goal to please the Lord in all things.  It’s a simple, yet fulfilling goal.  God never disappoints.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, I seek You above all else. ” Whom have I in heaven but You, and there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.”  [Ps. 73:25]

DAILY READING:  Pr. 30-1; Ecc. 1,2

People don’t like this word.  However, it is often necessary for correction to take place. [Pr, 29:1]

Rebuke is painful in the moment, but brings the desired results in the long term. [Pr. 28:23]

It’s vital in parenting. [Pr. 29:17]

Mockers won’t receive it, but wise men will.  [Pr 9:8]

Rebukes must be wrapped in love and crystal clear.  [2 Tim. 2:24]

DAILY PRAYER:  Father, help us to accept loving rebuke, and when needed, give it with a pure motive. 

DAILY READING:  Pr. 26-9

Psalms – for the Christian on his knees. To develop a right relationship with God through prayer, praise, and worship. Located at the heart of the Bible to be used devotion-ally on a consistent basis.

Proverbs – for the Christian on his feet.  Wise sayings to apply to daily life to develop and maintain right relationships with those around us.

A healthy formula for their consistent use is five Psalms and one Proverb every day.

DAILY PRAYER:  Father, thank You for these powerful devotional tools to help us please You with our daily walk.  We want to please You above all others.

DAILY READING:  Pr. 21-5

The conscious, intentional act of committing an issue to the Lord’s intervention is one of the greatest spiritual lessons I’ve learned. [Pr, 16:3]

When Patty and I led a Bible college music group, we would circle up the team members and commit our challenges to the Lord.  Then, we all had the privilege of watching God work it out together.  I hope they learned from that.

We can trust God.  He is OVER EVERYTHING.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we trust You to intervene in our lives bringing about Your will as we commit each challenge of life to You in prayer.

DAILY READING:  Pr. 16-20

The soothing tongue is a tree of life,
    but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.  [Pr. 15:4]

We are not responsible for the words that are directed at us, but we are accountable for those we utter.  Today, be sensitive to the motive and tone of the words you speak.  Allow the Holy Spirit to meter your words so they can give life rather than destroy it.

The words of the wise are like apples of gold in pictures of silver.  [Pr. 25:11]

DAILY PRAYER:  Father, I desire to speak words that give life and health.  Forgive me for the unkind and destructive things i’ve said.  Use me to build Your kingdom.

DAILY READING:  Pr. 11-5

Both have voices.  Both have a path to the future.

One is bright, the other dark.  One is health and life, the other, death.  One calls to wealth and riches, the other to depravity.  One’s reward and pleasure lasts forever, the other’s, only fleeting.

These two opposing voices are identified in the book of Proverbs.  Much of life is determined by which voice we listen to and obey.

Seek wisdom.

DAILY PRAYER:   Father, thank You for teaching us to listen to Your voice.  Give us an obedient ear to hear and receive Your grace and wisdom today.

DAILY READING:  Pr. 7-10

Wisdom = insight into the true nature of things;

Understanding = the application of wisdom to everyday life.

If you seek riches, you are not wise. If you seek wisdom, it will lead you to Christ Jesus.  If you seek Jesus, wisdom will be a part of the total benefit package which also includes true riches

When reading Proverbs, merely substitute Jesus for wisdom, because He is God’s wisdom to us.  [1 Cor. 1:24,30]

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, I seek You alone.  Let my quest for You be an inspiration to those who see my life and may they seek You too.

DAILY READING:  Pr. 2-5

God’s Spirit leads and His Word clarifies His wisdom for life.  When we get off the path, His rebukes bump us back to His purposes.  We are wise when we allow His rebukes to bring us back to obedience and right relationship with Him.  We are foolish when we ignore His rebukes and follow the path of sin.

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”  [Heb. 12:5,6]

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, thank You for Your unfailing love that rebukes us when we err, and leads us back to a worship relationship with You.

DAILY READING:  Ps. 146-50; Pr. 1,2

Life gets overwhelming at times.  The Psalmist sometimes described these seasons of life as being “When my spirit grows faint within me.”  It was then that he learned to cry out to God for mercy.  He termed God’s consistent relief as “Sure Mercies.”  I believe this was a prophetic description of Christ Jesus.

God is the source of our relief.  He takes care of our enemies.  We don’t!  He gives us the good things we don’t deserve and withholds the consequences we do deserve.  That’s God’s mercy.

We merely need to cry out for it.   Just say, “Jeeee-suuuussssss!”

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we NEED You .  Send help from Your sanctuary right now and deliver us from the predicaments we find ourselves in.  Thank You for Your unfailing mercy.

DAILY READING:  Ps. 141-5

“Surely the righteous will praise Your name.”  The Psalmist also said, “I will sing to the Lord because He has blessed me so richly.” [Ps. 13:6]

If we knew how  much the Lord loves to hear us sing, we’d be singing all the time.  Have you ever tried it?  As you are driving down the road, let Him hear you sing instead of you listening to the radio … or whatever.  When we sing praises, we are lifted into His presence, because He lives in our praises.

That’s the best way to live.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, inhabit my praise as I lift my voice to You in song.  If I don’t praise You , the rocks will cry out.

DAILY READING:  Pas. 135-40